Juniors & Seniors

The General Studies degree is designed for students who want to design an individual program of study and take classes in departments of their own choosing. Students are encouraged to earn one or more minors or area of emphasis. They work closely with their advisor to choose classes that meet their career goals and explore educational opportunities outside the classroom including internships and volunteer experiences, as well as study abroad and programs offered through National Student Exchange.

Students are required to complete the general education core and 120 credits with 45 credits at the upper-division level (courses numbered 300 or above). Of the 45 required upper-division credits, 30 must be earned in UI courses. No more than 36 credits, either lower or upper-division, in any one discipline may count towards the 120 total credits. No student may become a candidate for the B.G.S. degree who has already earned a baccalaureate degree or who is a candidate for another degree offered by the university. It is very important that the student working toward the B.G.S. “look ahead” to see in which departments he or she wishes to accumulate the required 45 credits in upper-division courses. Many upper-division courses have prerequisites that must be completed during the early semesters of the student’s undergraduate career. If planning is delayed, it may be that some courses will be “unavailable” because the student has not take the prerequisites.

Students graduating in general studies must be proactive in choosing coursework that meet their individual interests and career goals and work closely with their adviser.